Electrochemical Behavior and Localized Corrosion Associated with Mg2Si Particles in Al and Mg Alloys

The electrochemical characteristics of Mg 2 Si in dilute NaCl over a range of pH values are presented. In this study, Mg 2 Si was carefully synthesized to permit the collection of its anodic and cathodic potentiodynamic polarization response. Difficulties in producing bulk Mg 2 Si means that such data remains scarce to date. Mg 2 Si is an important intermetallic that forms in Al and Mg alloys containing silicon. In this work, the electrochemical response of Mg 2 Si is interpreted (and contrasted) in the context of Al and Mg alloys that contain Mg 2 Si, revealing that Mg 2 Si is either a local anode or local cathode.